Thick Air Gallery

Deep Waters

2012-01-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

Will the fish be able to unlock this heart? Maybe the octopus can help.
"Deep Waters" 8x8 inches, acrylic on panel. Genre: animals
Sold.

Fish With a Key

2011-12-31T07:47:00.000-08:00

"Fish with a Key" Acrylic on panel, size 4x6 inches, genre: animals. I love visual puns, so that's what this is about. What the key represents is a mystery, left to the viewer's interpretation.

The Way I Know

2011-12-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

"The Way I Know" acrylic on 20 x 16 streched canvas. Genre: figure. The writing on it says, "If this is just the way I know, then the way I know is just."

This was done from a live model, then once I got it home, started playing with it.

What is that cat hatching?

2011-12-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

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"What is that cat hatching?" Watercolor and ink, 5x7, on 140# cold press paper. Genre: fantasy.
Wanted to do some hatching--with pen and ink, that is. This is for Daily Paintworks "Picasso It" challenge, where you do something similar to a famous artist's style. Inspired by the art of Maurice Sendak and Arthur Rackham, with a teensy bit of Dr. Seuss thrown in.

Beginner's Mind and Conventional Wisdom, ACRYLIC PAINTING

2011-11-19T14:06:00.000-08:00

"Beginners Mind & Conventional Wisdom" 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas, fantasy genre. This is the final version, based on the earlier small study and the clay models. Not counting the clay models and the watercolor study, it took me about 3 weeks to paint this.
The story behind it: It's about two different viewpoints: Beginner's Mind, in which there are unlimited possibilities because problems have yet to be encountered, and Conventional Wisdom, which sees possibilities as limited due to past experience or the experience of others. Here, the two viewpoints are having a conversation. The Owl is Beginner's Mind, and the Boogie Bird is Conventional Wisdom.

Saturday Cafe

2011-11-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

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"Saturday Cafe" 5x7 inches, watercolor and ink on 140# coldpress paper.
This is from the Daily Paintworks "Crowd Challenge." I wanted to see how much I could change things around from the photo, so I made some of the figures into cats and birds, and then added other figures from my imagination.

Leaf Peeper, before and after, Acrylic original painting

2011-11-03T14:04:00.000-07:00

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"Leaf Peeper" 14 x11 inches, acrylic on stretched canvas, fantasy genre. This is an old painting I redid. You can see how it used to look below. It was too dark, and needed to be lightened and brightened up. I also decided to make the Peeper's face more realistic. So now it's a completely different painting.

Painting with Acrylics TIP:
To give acrylics a richer surface that resembles oils, do not thin heavy body acrylics with water. Thin them with acrylic medium. My two favorite acrylic mediums are Liquitex Matte Medium, and Golden gloss Acrylic Glazing Liquid (not overly glossy, which I like). The Liquitex medium dries fast, and the Golden dries slow, so the two of them provide everything needed for layering. I also sometimes use just the paint itself, no water or medium added, with a dampened brush.

Clay models

2011-10-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

While ago, someone was asking me about clay models. Here are a couple I'm painting from. A bigger version of "Beginner's mind...conventional wisdom", and it's coming out well.

Painting from clay models is very similar to painting from a still life setup, and it adds an extra dimension of reality to imaginative art.

The two birds are of unfired stoneware clay. The little house in the left background is mine, and so is the pig at the right-- they're also in the painting. They're some of my old porcelain sculptures. I've kept a small collection of them and they make great painting models, too. Oh, and the wings on the bottle are made of plastiline clay, which never dries out and can be reused or rearranged.

#Thoughts that take me places

2011-10-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

"Thoughts that take me places wheels can never go."
Acrylic, 8x8 inch panel, original painting
Genre: portrait, done from live model.

Her pose was so thoughtful that it made me feel that although she held very still, she was traveling in galaxies far far away.

Holy Leaf

2011-10-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

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"Holy Leaf" 6x6 inches, watercolor and india ink on 140 lb cp paper. Saw this leaf full of holes, just had to paint it. Don't you think it's the ideal leaf for a leaf peeper?

Beginner's Mind and Conventional Wisdom

2011-09-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

"Beginner's Mind and Conventional Wisdom Having a Chat"

Ink and watercolor on 5x7 cold press 140# paper.

Fantasy genre.

I started out this painting in acrylics, but those birds wouldn't fly, so I redid it in ink and watercolor and it worked out to my satisfaction. From now on I'm asking the painting what medium it wants to be done in (I am serious).

I used a halfway dried up black Pitt pen to ink it. Pitt pens are archival and have India ink and can be used all the way until the ink no longer runs. When it's halfway dried up, it makes this very soft line like a pencil line, especially on a toothy paper. You can even do gray, subtle shading with a halfway dried marker pen.

Can you guess which bird is which?

Dreamstuffs

2011-09-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

"Dreamstuffs" 6x6 acrylics on canvas panel, fantasy genre

I needed to take a break from all the compositional things I had learned, and do something very symmetrical. This was fun and I like how the symmetry is subtly different on each side. Symmetry is a very ancient artistic motif, especially a bust flanked by animals and curliques.

Original available via Daily Paintworks.

Also available as a greeting card on Fine Art America, and on RedBubble.

Sketch in 4 values, fantasy birds

2011-09-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

"Conversation" mixed media, 5x7, fantasy, birds

I need good values to stay out of trouble. If I make a value sketch beforehand, I'm much more likely to come up with a decent painting. Otherwise I get confused and waste a lot of paint. Now, I'm not promising a finished painting later on from this sketch. My batting average is not perfect. But I stand a much better chance of success if I make a value sketch first.

This value sketch is in response to Daily Paintworks value challenge. Paint something from life, using 4 values. This has white, mid-light, mid, and mid-dark. Is it from life? Depends on where you live.

EFT, September 11, and letting go of fears

2011-09-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

I chose to observe this solemn tenth anniversary of September 11 by letting go of my fears, using EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique. By fears I don't mean reasonable caution like looking both ways before crossing the street. Nor do I mean the voice of instinct which points out some tangible threat to be avoided. I mean the kind of irrational fears that lead to making avoidable mistakes. False Evidence Appearing Real. Those kind of fears.

Well, I had lots of them. They were holding me back both as an artist and a human being. And I could think of no more fitting way to honor those killed or injured by that attack ten years ago than by getting rid of these fears once and for all, so I could lead a better life, be a better person, a better artist, a better American.

EFT combines the ancient art of acupuncture with modern psychology. Instead of using needles, one uses one's fingers to tap on various acupuncture points and saying a statement, which releases blocked emotions. It may sound crazy, but it works for me. Plus the above website has free instructions, so I dove right in. Once I learned it, I invested in a couple books on it, and those have stood me in good stead. I'm a do it yourself-er at heart, which is why EFT appeals to me so much. EFT can also be done with a trained therapist, and I probably could have had faster results that way, but I felt good about practicing it on my own.

Pig Headed!

2011-09-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

#"Pig Headed" Original Acrylic painting on 3x5 inches panel
Done for Daily Paintworks Pig Challenge
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I've done lots of "Pig Headed" artworks over the years, mainly in ceramics, at least one in watercolor. This is my first one in acrylics, and she's sporting a pearl necklace. It's a psychological self portrait but shhh! don't tell anyone. This also belongs to my "ladies in funny hats" series.

Balancing act: experimenting vs tried & true

2011-09-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

In art school they emphasized staying fresh. Experiment a lot, they told us. Don't get in a rut. Constantly try something new. And while it's true that experimentation can bring freshness into an artist's work and help prevent burnout, I've found that experimenting all the time has its down side. Too much experimentation can make it difficult to build a good portfolio of work. Several failures in a row can be hard on one's confidence. Despite all the emphasis in art school on freshness, newness, pushing the envelope, and being wildly creative, I've concluded that repeating a successful formula is a good thing if I'm happy with both the process and the outcome.

Repetition is good to a certain extent. Formula is good to a certain extent. Experimentation is good to a certain extent. It's all a balancing act.

Monster with a flower

2011-09-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

Click to bid (coming soon)

"Monster with a Flower" 4x6 acrylics on panel, fantasy genre.

Somehow the idea of a monster with tender, delicate feelings appeals to me. You can tell this guy is sweet and sensitive, although you wouldn't want to get on his bad side.

Sometimes when I scan a painting, the colors all come out just right. Other times, I have to do some serious adjustments with color saturation to get it to be like the original. This one gave me a bit of trouble, but I think I got it pretty close.

Dragon painting, happy ending

2011-08-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Click to bid: DPW Help Africa Challenge

"Dragon Perch" acrylics on 5x7 canvas board.

This painting is my contribution to the Daily Paintworks "help the children of Africa" challenge. Net proceeds from the sale of this artwork will go to Mercy Corps. Buyer will receive forwarded confirmation of my donation to Mercy Corps.

Now, about this painting... I failed the first attempt at it. This is a smaller sized version and also I made a couple minor changes. It feels good to have it finally done. Also it feels good to be back on track with my art after a "slump" of several months. Yips are gone. Yippee!

Tree study # 2, same photo

2011-08-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Same photo, different values in the painting. I put these side by side so you could see how it's the same tree casting the interesting shadows, but with the foliage and the background treated differently. Below is the photo I took at Lakewood Park. If you squint at the photo, you can see how the tree, foliage, river, and river bank all disappear into the same value. In order to make a painting of it, I had to re-arrange the values in the photo. This I learned from Johannes Vloothuis. Don't take a photo at face value!

"Tree Study #2" 5x7 watercolor on 140# cp paper

Tree & shadows watercolor study

2011-08-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

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"Big Tree by the River" watercolor on 140# Arches CP paper, 5x7.

For a while I was in a slump with my acrylics. Every painting started out well, and somewhere between "good enough" and "overkill" the painting would die. After having this happen to several paintings in a row, I decided to take a break from acrylics and do some watercolors. This turned out a good strategy, as it gave me a chance to break free, have some fun, and relax into the painting.

Her New Hat

2011-07-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

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"Her New Hat" 8x6 acrylics on panel. This was from a live model in a painting studio I attend. Want to thank Eve Larson for advising me to crop it (it started out as 8x8) and Kelly Borsheim for giving me help with the hat. Two wonderful artists and wonderful friends!

I am thrilled to announce that I've been selected by Daily Paintworks as one of their featured artists. It's an honor to be part of a group of artists I greatly admire. I've got a lot to live up to!

Daily Paintworks includes auctions, so I will be selling my work through them. You might still catch me on eBay, but I love being on a site where it's nothing but art, art, ART!

Red Roof

2011-07-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

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"Red Roof" watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, on 140# CP watercolor paper. Size: ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Recently I took a "How to paint Buildings" web course from Johannes Vloothuis, and I was trying to apply everything I had learned. Such as: present the building from a three quarters viewpoint. Make it more complex than a simple "box." Imply textures, keep them subtle, not overly detailed. Optional: provide a lead in, and make it curve around. Keep the greens varied-- well that part isn't about buildings, but their surroundings.

Painting Tools

2011-07-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

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"Painting Tools" Watercolor and ink. 3.5 x 2.5 inches.
Spray mist bottle, acrylic paint tube, and paint brush.
Inspired by Daily Paintworks "Paint What You Paint With" challenge.

Spray Mist Muse

2011-07-10T17:38:00.003-07:00

This is from a DPW challenge, Paint What You Paint with. In my case, a spray bottle and my imagination are part of my tools.

"Mister Muse" ACEO 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches. Watercolor and ink on 140# paper.

Click here to buy.

Oops...

2011-06-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

This Dragon Stack painting is about to slip through my fingers, so I have to do a lot of back tracking ie., redo the impasto underpainting in some parts and reglaze over that. Acrylics will allow for that. Anyways it's the background that's causing the problems. The dragon herself is fine.

I can almost control this glazing process, but not quite. If it turns out a "failure" I will have learned a lot.

Dragon Stack WIP #3

2011-06-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

I know this looks like I'm going backwards, but really it's progress. After completing the underpainting, I covered the painting with several layers of a translucent white glaze called a velatura. Zinc white is best to use. The velatura diminishes contrast, lightens up the whole painting, and brings the darks down to mid tones, so that when you glaze over them, the colors will still show.

Then the fun began! The yellow glaze is transparent yellow oxide. There is a very faint red glaze over the clock tower. Also the dragon's eye and nostril have been touched up to darken again.

I want the sky to be orange as before, but to be a transparent, glowing, orange. The dragon will be turquoise, as before.

The underpainting is in pthalo blue and titanium white. The glaze colors are transparent yellow oxide, cadmium red medium, pthalo blue, and titanium white.

Click on the image to see it enlarged. Acrylic on 12x16 canvas.

Dragon Stack WIP #2

2011-06-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

I decided to make the whole thing blue for the sake of unity. Later do some oranges in the back ground when it's time to glaze it. The glaze colors will be a red and a yellow. Haven't decided which red or which yellow. Also white, for hightlights. No black, as the blue is dark enough to take its place.

Dragon Stack (WIP)

2011-06-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is the under painting for the Dragon Stack. I did it in blue because there was some blue on the palette. I like to save on paint. This is for the Daily Paintworks balance challenge. 9x12 on stretched canvas.

Speaking of Daily Paintworks, I joined them, and you can see my gallery here.

I'll be selling my work at their auctions from now on. Here's my first DPW auction. You can see the painting, below. "Cat and Mouse". Acrylics on 6x6 canvas.

Dragon Stack (study)

2011-06-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

"Dragon Stack" Ink & wash in a 9x12 sketchbook. And ink/wash/digital with composition tweaked, hopefully improved.

This is for the Daily Paintworks balance challenge.

This was a fun challenge to do. I have done other stacks before, but not in a long time. Started with a ceramic dragon, a plastic frog, and an ink bottle. The other images are from a Dover Publications reference book for artists.

A Gift in the Time Continuum

2011-06-07T21:15:00.001-07:00

I hadn't done watercolors in a very long time. I missed them. So here's one. I'd like to go back and forth between them and acrylics. Especially while each one is drying.
"A Gift in the Time Continuum." Watercolor & ink, ACEO on 140# watercolor paper, cold press. Done for the Daily Paintworks challenge.

Available for sale $25 USD. Email me.

In case you're wondering what it means, I'm not sure. Except that is always good to stay present.

Back Yard Testimonial

2011-06-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

I had a poem to go with this but decided to wait and not post that until I have it all set up for an on demand print, so the painting and the poem could be published together.

Anyways, here's the finished artwork on this painting. Took me a whole week!

"Back Yard Testimonial" 8x8 acrylics on wood panel. $65 USD. Original available for sale. Email me and I'll send you a Paypal invoice. Free shipping in USA. Also I ship to Europe and Canada. Shipping cost $15. Please be prepared to pay customs fees on your end. Texas residents pay sales tax of 8.25% added to total.

Available as a print on Fine Art America. The print has a poem that goes with it.

Available as a Greeting Card on Fine Art America. (without the poem)

WIP Back Yard Fantasy acrylic painting with glazes.

2011-06-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

More color added, mostly in thin glazes, with occasional impasto in the highlights and light areas. I want the foliage to go darker, to balance the dark on the tree trunk, yet retaining some of the translucent bright greens. The cat and the dragon may be put into shadow, to put the emphasis on the bird.

WIP Back yard underpainting grisaille

2011-06-01T09:59:00.001-07:00

This is what I've done so far:

1. I put a "velatura" over the entire painting, of zinc white plus glaze medium. This this translucent layer of white pulls the darks up into medium value range, making the contrast very subtle. Use zinc white, because it's transparent. Do not use titanium white. It's too opaque. In some parts of the painting you can still see this, such as the cat's face.

2. Then, a faint green glaze over the entire piece, wiping off parts of it like the bird, the cat, and the little dragon.

3. I started in on the tree trunk, glazing greens and reds over it, and darkening parts of it. I also put some highlights on the tree trunk with zinc white, impasto.

4. There is a very thin glaze of magenta on the bird. Also the squirrel has been lightened up with some white/gray impasto.

You can go back and forth with thin glazes and impasto. For glazing with acrylics, I use

Matisse "Flow" acrylics (the Jerry's house brand) or Liquitex soft body. I like the Golden glazing medium because it dries slowly and allows you time to smooth in and wipe off an over-all glaze. I also like the Liquitex glaze mediums for glazes that don't have to be smoothed so much or wiped, because these mediums dry fast.

NOTE: Acrylics dry darker, so I add very little color to my glaze medium.

For more about velaturas, read "How to Paint Like the Old Masters" by Joseph Sheppard. He's talking about oils, so you'll have to translate it into acrylics. But it works the same way, to put a velatura over the finished underpainting, and also paint back and forth using impasto for highlights, and thin glazes.

Backyard Fantasy Grisaille underpainting

2011-05-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

"Back Yard Fantasy" 8x8 acrylics on wood.

This is another of Daily Paintworks challenges: the view out your window. There is a big, beautiful pecan tree in our back yard and plenty of squirrels & cats, so that part of the picture is accurate. The rest, well, who's to say what else someone might see in their yard besides ordinary reality?

This is an underpainting done in violet oxide and will be glazed over in various colors. Hooker's green for sure, maybe also magenta and transparent yellow oxide. We'll see.

I wrote a poem to go with this painting, & will post it here when the painting is completed.

Cat and Mouse DPW challenge

2011-05-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

"Cat and Mouse" 6x6 on canvas, acrylics. Done for Daily Paintworks Challenge. I used 2 colors, magenta and transparent yellow oxide, plus black and white, and glazed over a black/white underpainting. Soft body or Flow acrylics glaze very well, and also take a little longer to dry.

$50 if you're interested. Free shipping inside USA. Texas buyers pay sales tax, which is 8.25% extra.

Closeup detail, below.

Treasure Map value study, imagination, and Kafka

2011-05-27T07:18:00.001-07:00

"Treasure Map" value study, 8x10 acrylics on canvas. Value study for Daily Paintworks values challenge. I started this in alizarin crimson, but found it too intense, then switched to violet oxide, which I've used before in underpaintings. There are still traces of aliziran on face and hands.

This composition will be developed with more detail, then used as an underpainting and I'll glaze over it in acrylics.

Many times when I do such paintings, people ask me where I get my ideas. I did a post last year on this blog about stretching your imagination. I believe that imagination is a skill, and just like other aspects of art, it can be cultivated and developed.

That, and I'll leave you with a quote from Franz Kafka: "You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."

No Place Like Homework landscape house painting

2011-05-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

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"Be It Ever So Humble" 5x7 acrylic on illustration board (which is about the same weight as mat board, but designed to be painted upon).

This is my homework from the online landscape class I took, sponsored by Wet Canvas, and taught by Johannes Vloothuis. I learned a lot. He's a really good teacher.

Joker's Preference

2011-04-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

I spread an ancient deck of cards--

spotted, greasy, worn.

When dealing out, they stick,

because the edges ruffle

and the six of spades is torn.

I could replace them with a brand new deck

that cleanly glides from fingertip to table,

every card so neat and quick

pristine from ace to deuce,

far easier to shuffle

than these persnickity old frumps.

Maybe with such newness I’d be able

to prevail at solitaire.

But no, they suit me, these old stubs,

and besides, that diamond jack

has got me in his stare.

Every king an upstart,

and that pesky ace of clubs

sports a major flyspeck.

The rest are double dealing hacks.

Nonetheless they’ve trumped my heart---

and will always play me fair.

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I love to play real life free cell, and have a beat up old deck of cards to prove it. The only card in the deck that isn't all worn out is the joker, because that card isn't used in free cell.

Nothing Doing Something Being

2011-04-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

I wander with no object

star or near in life or depth

and I feel a boundless Eden

just in thyme to match my breadth.

It’s the peace that passeth purpose;

understanding overlain

with the leafiness of garden

or the feathers of the rain.

And heron earth a span of wings

beats out the driven days,

for the waiving of all purpose

opens daylight through the haze.

--Theresa Bayer, April 8, 2011

Thought I'd include some poetry. This one is about meditation, and its "purposelessness" that allows you to feel deep relaxation and peace.

Frog ACEO bottle magic prince TBARTS original acrylic painting

2011-04-07T20:41:00.001-07:00

"Princely Spirits" ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches miniature, acrylics on illo board

Click here to bid

This Frog is eyeing the bottle, thinking maybe, just maybe...it might work some royal magic for him. Should he take a swig?

Zippo lighter surreal painting

2011-02-20T18:42:00.000-08:00

"Lighter Noir" 6x6 inches, acrylic on Everlast canvas panel

This one is from the Daily Paintworks Challenge. This week's challenge was to paint a Zippo lighter (photo provided) using only 3 colors: burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, and titanium white. When I first saw the photo I thought I saw a little face in the top part where the flame comes up, so I painted it in there.

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Onion bottles penny still life original acrylic painting

2011-02-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

"Onion Vortex" 6x6 inches on Everlast canvas panel, in acrylic.

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I wanted to see if I could make the onion look mysterious and dramatic.

2011-02-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

"Newly Sprung"

7x5 acrylics on canvas panel

This is from the Daily Paintworks Challenge. This challenge was issued by Qiang Huang, which was to paint a red rose. I did this from a photo, but never again. Next time I paint a rose, it'll be from life, so I can see its structure.

Four quick ten minute onions

2011-02-10T05:19:00.001-08:00

This is another series of ten minute paintings, for the Daily Paintworks Challenge by Carol Marine.

"Tearless Fearless Four" 6x6 inches on panel, painted with slow drying acrylics (Atelier and Golden Open). I really enjoy doing this kind of painting, but I also love my whimsical fantasy work too. Maybe I can whomp up enough energy for both kinds!

Ten minute painting challenge: 9 bottles

2011-02-09T12:14:00.000-08:00

"Nine Bottles"

This is another of Carol Marine's challenges. A series of 10 minute paintings. Ie., each bottle is painted in 10 minutes, with a timer set. I put them all together on an 8x10 canvas, done in acrylics.

I'm taking a break from my usual style of whimsical fantasy painting to learn realism and composition better. This is also helping me paint faster and keep it fresh, which is also something I really need.

Imperial Challenge, Kilroy & Cats

2011-02-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

ACEO with Kilroy in Imperial Car

This will be my 2nd entry in Carol Marine's new Daily Paintworks challenge. To see the first one, scroll down.

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"Abstract Imperialism" 6x6 Acrylics on canvas board.

An entry in Carol Marine's new Daily Paintworks Challenge. The current challenge features an old Imperial car, and I got intrigued with the tail light detail.

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Poem "Artspeak" plus Giant Cosmic Frog

2011-01-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

"Giant cosmic frog devours the moon." Watercolor and ink.

I love making wacky artist statements, so here's one. The painting is one I sold on eBay a couple years back. Wanted to use one appropriate to the poem.

Artspeak

Observe this Painting to our left:

Every brushstroke crisply deft.

Its crypto continuity

restrains the ambiguity,

and pure aesthetic form

that culminates the norm

of cultural gratuity

in socialized vacuity.

The Artist cannot be concerned

with anything she ever learned

of figure, form, or gravity,

perspective, or anatomy.

Her attitude is sunny:

she hopes to make some money!

Found the Key, Girl, Bird, Fun Art, Heart

2011-01-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

Working title: Found the Key

8x10, acrylic on stretched canvas

Even though she found the key, she hasn't located the heart. Or the watch.

Still working on my "fun art" style to see if I can refine it and make it more detailed, with a little more slant towards realism. This one went through several stages, and I just couldn't bring myself to post them. I was worried I'd mess it up in the process. I want my paintings to look fresh, yet detailed; that's a tall order but parts of this painting answer to that.

Weeping Onion original acrylic painting

2010-11-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

"Weeping Onion (in the desert)" Acrylic on 6x6 inch stretched canvas

SOLD

UPDATE: Rick Herndon has written an Ode to this painting

Third in my Onion series, this one's landscape background is inspired by Big Bend National Park, in Texas, USA. We just went for a trip there earlier this week. As always, the harsh but stunning beauty of the desert and the mountains inspire me to find new ways of expression.

I had fun with the tear in this one, by putting gloss varnish over just that tiny part of the painting.

Tbarts website

Destiny's Angel, completed artwork

2010-11-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

"Destiny's Angel", the work in progress now completed. 8x10 acrylic on Everlast canvas panel. I wanted to use my Fun Art style to explore complexity: to see if I could make a complex composition that still worked without being too crowded, busy, or overworked. I feel like I achieved that goal. Although it's complex, you can still see the L shaped compositional pattern I started with.

In some ways, my Fun Art style is harder to paint in than realism because it requires extensive use of invention. I'd like to try this complexity experiment again in my realistic style (or rather, as realistic as I get...I always have to throw a little weirdness in there).

Red onion, eye, tears, surreal

2010-11-09T14:52:00.001-08:00

What's So Sad About A Big Red Onion? 5x7 on canvas panel

Available on Etsy

This red onion was so gorgeous and so luminous, I was hesitant to paint it. Didn't know if I could do it justice. The eye is from looking in the mirror, and the tear, well tears are so wonderfully kitsch, I just had to do it. The idea of onions/tears appeals to me; this is the second teary onion one I've painted.

Work in progress, Day 4

2010-11-09T05:32:00.001-08:00

Work in Progress, day 4. Did some backtracking to recapture subtlety, and feel more in control of the painting. Maria Lyle has suggested working on 2 or more paintings at a time, and I can see her point, so I'll give that a shot. I do tend to get obsessed, so spreading attention between 2 or more should help.

This painting was an experiment to see if I could take my fun art style and kick it up a few notches ie., larger and more complex. I feel there are are two kinds of complexity: complexity of composition, and complexity of texture and/or pattern within a simple composition. I tend toward the former, whereas the latter may be easier to control.

Work in Progress Day 3

2010-11-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

Day 3. I overdid the highlights on her face & lost its former subtlety. Must fix that. I'm going to redo the key, too, never liked it. Other than that I'm pleased with the changes made in the composition.

Work in Progress, Day 2

2010-11-04T18:56:00.001-07:00

This is day two of my work in progress. The cat has been finished except for the whiskers, and the bearded face below has been filled in. Looks like I've got an unintentional caricature of Sean Connery, oh well, these things happen.

Below is the same work, with photoshopped improvements to the composition, that I will paint in tomorrow.

Work in Progress, and a lesson in Chops

2010-11-03T19:19:00.001-07:00

This is a work in progress. It doesn't have a name yet. It looks nice already, just the way it is, and yet I feel compelled to finish it. In fact, it's already different from how you see it here. It's 8x10, acrylics on canvas.

It looks nice enough that it feels risky to show this WIP in public, because what if I mess it up? I'm willing to take that risk, however. Such risks are part of my journey as an artist, as per the headline on this blog.

It took me a long time to get this far on this painting because of my chops. I had to reclaim them. I made the mistake of stopping painting for a few weeks, maybe 2, maybe 3, because I was so terribly busy. I'll never make that mistake again, because it's taken me at least a week, maybe more, to get my skills back up to where I'm happy with them.

One thing I learned about reclaiming skills: start back in with something easy and of no consequence. Like a little black and white study. Don't try to resume the painting you left off on. It will only lead to frustration. Just get something to copy and get your hand-eye coordination back into the groove. Do that for several days, however long you need. And then there will come this magic moment when you realize you're not struggling anymore; you're flowing with it. And you're back.

Another Halloween one: Ghost, Pumpkin, & Cat

2010-10-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

"Ectoplasmic Considerations" 5x7 Acrylic on panel

Purchase here

A Fun Art painting with a Ghost, a pumpkin, and a red tabby cat. The key is to the family sepulchre. The Ghost's hair is turning into a cosmic ectoplasmic event.

And now, it's back to onions...

Halloween Ghosts Redux Acrylic Painting

2010-10-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

"Ectoplasmic Tangle" 5x7 Acrylics on 5x7 stretched canvas

Click to bid
Two ghosts communicating, which is done with their ectoplasmic hair. In case you ever wondered. As witnessed by 3 cats and a pumpkin.

This is an acrylic version of an aceo I did in 2008. 5x7 is the same proportions as an aceo so basically it's the same format, twice as large as the first version. I like the idea of new versions however next time I do it I will change the format. There are some things I like better about the earlier one; and some things I like better about this one. But changing the format is a good idea because I found myself too dependent on the old composition; kept fighting off the desire to reproduce it. However, it's still a good little painting, IMO.

The sides are painted and it doesn't need framing, just a wire and the back. So it's ready to hang.

Bird Head, and a Word about Water

2010-10-06T18:43:00.000-07:00

"Bird Head" 6x6 acrylics on illustration board. This is a real old one, and I want to mount it onto a larger piece of illo board so that its edges can be seen. It's got a nice metallic border around the edge which would be lost if it were framed directly. This one uses more of a watercolor technique than I do currently.

And now, a word about water...

These days when I paint with acrylics, I use very very little water. I have a tall plastic container that I put about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of, to keep my brushes wet and to rinse them. Before sticking them in the water, excess paint can be wiped off the brush onto another surface. Not necessarily a paper towel. It can be wiped off onto a separate canvas, to create an undercoat of color.

When the water gets dirty, I use a paper towel to soak it up. Then I hang that out to dry, and it can be used again for the same purpose even though it is stiff. I suppose such paper towels could be used for a collage purpose, but I haven't tried that yet.

If I want to get my brush really clean, I spritz some clean water from a spray mister into a little tray and rinse with that, sopping that up, too.

That way my sink doesn't get stopped up, and the acrylic paint doesn't get put into the water system.

"Tears for Captain Onion" Lady Ship Sea TBARTS

2010-10-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

"Tears for Captain Onion" 5x7 acrylics on Everlast panel

Click to bid

Inspired by Carol Marine's onion paintings, I decided to try my hand at onions. So I slipped one into my Funny Hat series. Then I added the ship, then the tear, and lo! a story seemed to loom on the horizon.

Her dress is done like an onion, and the earring and the moon echo the onion theme. I did find the onion challenging to paint, but it sure was fun and I'm ready to go again. I'm planning one with a red onion.

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Bird Absurd Fun Art Original Painting

2010-10-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

"Bird Absurd" 6x6 original painting, acrylics on 6x6 Everlast panel

Purchase it here

The cat is thinking, "O Bird, you are absurd, and yet I might just take a bite."

When I switched from from using outlines to using solid form, I found it challenging to retain a sense of whimsical expression in my Fun Art. This one is successful in that respect, I think. This painting has lots of glazes, and is very luminous, which contrasts nicely with its whimsical flavor.

Fishwife, original acrylic painting

2010-09-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

"Fishwife" 5x7 acrylics on Everlast panel. Click here to buy.

Another one from my Funny Hats series. This one could also be from the fairy tale where the fisherman's wife is never satisfied with the wishes the magic fish grants. Note that the fish is about to bite on a key. I don't know why I put the key there, it just seemed like a fun visual pun.

Detail of Fishwife.

Persephone's Keys, original oil

2010-08-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

"Persephone's Keys" Oil on 5x7 Panelli canvas panel. Purchase here.

I posted an earlier version of this same painting a while back. I was struggling with the colors, and the composition too. I am very happy with this final version.

If you want to read about the symbolism in this painting, you'll have to click on the Purchase link. Aren't I sneaky?

Secret Life of Dave

2010-08-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

"Secret Life of Dave" 20x20, acrylic on canvas.

“DAVE” is a multi-media mural of artworks by Austin artists of popular model Dave Larson —the most painted man in Austin.

The Dave Project is part of Austin Visual Arts Association’s COLLABORATION Exhibit at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd., Austin TX 78704. Show runsAUGUST 5 – 28, 2010. RECEPTION: AUGUST 10, 6-8 P.M.

Stretching Your Imagination, and Dave Show

2010-07-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

Imagination is a Skill

Imagination seems mysterious --something that is thought of as rare in adults, a blessing shared by only a few creative minds. Actually it is simply the ability to recombine familiar things into something new. All children can do that, but unless an effort is made to retain one's imagination, people lose that ability as they grow up. The good news is, you can get your imagination back. Imagination is a skill; you can reclaim it and develop it.

Here are some imagination-stretching exercises for artists:

1. Take an ordinary object and turn it into a fantasy creature. For example your bathroom sink: the faucets could be eyes, and the spigot is the nose, and the drain is a mouth. Or a pair of pliers, it kind of looks like it's a monster with teeth.

2. Get a bunch of photos of different people, animals and objects, and combine them. Put a bird's wings on a cat. Put a cat's head on a butterfly. If you use other peoples' photos, use them only for reference. It's always best to take your own photos because you're working from your own sensibilities and you are free to copy the photo because you own its copyright. You can also obtain copyright free reference books from Dover, with a copying limit of 10 of their images per artwork. You can also use your own realistic sketches for reference.

3. Set up a still life, and see if you can turn it into something that goes beyond ordinary reality.

4. Read or write a poem, then do a picture based on it. You may need to assemble photos for reference.

5. Doodle, and do it every day. Don't censor it, just draw whatever comes to mind and pay no attention at all to making it realistic.

Tip: It's easier to do all this if you draw with pencil, rather than jump in and paint.

Finally, you have to believe that you can do this. If you tell yourself "oh, I'm not creative, I'm only an ordinary thinker, I can't invent anything new," it will become a self fulfilling prophesy. Instead, think "What if I could do this? What would happen if I kept at it? What if this turned out to be something I really enjoy?"

Hope you will try it out, & feel free to comment about your results.

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The painting above is a detail of my work in progress for The Dave Project. "Secret Life of Dave" 20x20, acrylic on canvas. “DAVE” is a multi-media mural of artworks by Austin artists of popular model Dave Larson —the most painted man in Austin.

The Dave Project is part of Austin Visual Arts Association’s COLLABORATION Exhibit at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd., Austin TX 78704. Show runs AUGUST 5 – 28, 2010. RECEPTION: AUGUST 10, 6-8 P.M.

Pencil Study, Lady with Turtle, Bubble Fairy

2010-07-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

"Lady with Turtle" 9x12 5B pencil on Strathmore sketchbook paper.

Now that I've got a little knowledge of composition, I thought I'd try making more complex studies when I'm ready to start a new painting, instead of my usual rough thumbnail. I like the way this one has ovals within ovals. The right leg was too strong a diagonal thrust, so I faded it out. This composition also has a lot of negative shapes that I like, and I'd like to explore that idea further in future.

Next time I do one of these I'll use cold press watercolor paper and a harder pencil. I love pencil, because I find it easy to improvise with shapes and images. Love erasing, too.

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Sold this painting the other day. "Bubble Fairy" gouache on 5x7 illustration board.

Wisdom, Tiny Paintings, and Caricatures

2010-07-14T06:44:00.001-07:00

"Wisdom, Incorporated" oil on panel, 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches, was accepted into AVAA Membership Show, at Studio 2 Gallery, 1700 South Lamar Blvd., Ste # 318, Austin TX 787204. Show runs July 17 -- August 7, with the artist's reception July 17 from 6:30 pm --9:30 pm. SOLD

Well, I swore I'd never do any more tiny paintings after all those little bitty compositional studies, but you know what? I love doing tiny paintings. So I decided to just keep doing them and fix them up ready to hang or easy to display. This one is mounted on a 5x7 panel painted gold, and framed in a lovely reddish brown plein air frame.

I will be drawing caricatures in Bastrop, TX, on June 17. I'm drawing at "Movies in the Park" at Bob Bryant Park, 600 Charles Blvd., from 6:15--8:15 pm. Artist Kevin Middleton will also be there drawing caricatures. They're free & it's open to the public.

Opportunity, Keys #2, and That Lion Again

2010-07-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

"You've Always Had Those Keys Study #2" Click to Bid

ACEO 3.5 x 2.5 inches, acrylic on illustration board. Another compositional study.

This is my acrylic version of the one I did in watercolor previously. The colors and mood came out very different from the other. This is a circular compositon, you can see how her headgear and her neckline make the oval, and her face is a smaller oval within it. The pointy part of her headgear is a sort of a bird, and of course, the little cat sits in the background. The heart shaped locket is steely gray this time.

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"Yes, It's Really There" Click to Bid

Acrylic on illustration board, 2.5 x 3.5 inches ACEO. Compositional study, with a cross shaped composition. This one is about an unbelievable opportunity that can be believed. The key is in metallic gold paint. It's done glazed, which means several transparent layers of color over a monochrome underpainting. I don't paint this way very often. I like the hunched over posture of the figure, because she doesn't quite believe that the opportunity is really presenting itself.

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"Courage and Wisdom Caught Me Napping, REDUX" Click to Bid

Acrylic on illustration board, ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5 inches

I had been painting in oils for so long that I had forgotten that acrylics dry darker. This one seemed dark to me the first time around, so after some consideration I lightened it up, although it's still fairly dark and I like it that way (you have to do what the painting wants). I also made the U shape in the composition more definite.

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This ends my "thumbnail" series of compositional studies, and I will resume painting at the normal size which is 5x7 -- 16 x 20. My normal paintings take longer, so the "several paintings in a week" will be slowed down. However, I should be able to paint faster now that I know more about composition--the time I took out to study composition has been well spent. Again, the book I studied from is "The Simple Secret to Better Painting" by Greg Albert. It's a keeper.

Paisley Epiphany

2010-07-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

Click here to bid

"Paisley Epiphany" ACEO 3.5 x 2.5 inches, acrylic on illustration board.

I liked the idea of an epiphany based on a popular textile design. Note that there is an eye in the paisley. Paisleys are of ancient origin, from India and Persia. The west only caught onto them recently in the past couple hundred years, and their English name comes from the town of Paisley, Scotland.

This is another one of my compositional studies, with a cross shaped composition.

"Indifferent" Pied Piper Cats ACEO

2010-07-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

Click here to bid

"Indifferent" ACEO 3.5 x 2.5 inches, acrylic on illustration board. Varnished on both sides.

Not even the Pied Piper can herd cats. The little darlings just won't be organized. This little study has an X composition, with the streets converging into an implied vanishing point. The the lines of the streets and buildings, and also the cat's tail--all point to the Piper, who is the focal point. The cats are a secondary interest, and balance the composition. I had to get them at just the right value so they would show up, but not compete with the Piper.

The Squagon

2010-07-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Click here to Bid on the Squagon!

"The Squagon" ACEO 2.5 x 3.5 inches, acrylic on illustration board. Genre: FUN ART. Half squirrel and half dragon, the Squagon lives on roasted nuts.

This is an L shaped composition. The L is the dark part, which allows the focal point, ie., Squagon, to show off nicely. I'm trying to get more subtle with the values. That will probably take the rest of my life--fun!

Golden Helmet ACEO acrylic

2010-07-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

"Golden Helmet" ACEO 3.5 x 2.5 inches, acrylic on illustration board. I love profiles, and I love funny hats. Plus gold metallic paint. This is another one of my recent compositional studies. This one is a Cross or t shaped composition. Greg Albert had a series of various large shape compositional patterns and I went through and did each one. Previous posts have the U shape and another t shape --can you tell which is which? Available on eBay.

Twilight Bunny (on eBay)

2010-06-30T19:00:00.001-07:00

"Twilight Bunny" ACEO 3.5 x 2.5 inches, acrylics on illustration board. Just a little bunny rabbit in the moonlit twilight. I am very happy with the composition and colors on this one. Make a bid!

BTW I pledged to myself to blog at least 5 times a week from now on. I will try and make the content valuable in one way or another.

Valuable content for today: Happiness is a skill. That's right, it's a skill, it's not things that we acquire, or people loving us or anything like that, although those things are wonderful. Happiness an attitude and anyone can learn it. I practice by relaxing and letting go, ie., "let go and let God." I've dropped my cynicism. I act silly. When I get upset, I change my point of view and look things as a challenge or adventure, instead of as a misery. I give people the benefit of the doubt. I don't try and change anyone's thinking, as my own thinking is enough to handle (so if I haven't convinced you, it's ok with me, you're fine just the way you are).

OK that is all.

What Texas Means To Me & The Offering

2010-06-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

"Reverie at Green Gulch", oil on panel, 5x7, will be featured in the international art show "What Texas Means To Me" at Austin Art Space Gallery, Austin Texas USA. Show runs from July 2, 2010 to August 28, 2010. Artists' reception is on July 10 from 7pm to 9pm. Unfortunately I'm going to miss the artists' reception, as I have a previous commitment. But I want you to know that the shadows on the hills behind the model are deliberately shaped like wings. Green Gulch is a real place, it's in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA. Big Bend always gives me wings.

"The Offering" acrylic on illustration board. Size: 3.5 x 2.5 inches, ACEO miniature. This piece is about opportunities. Sometimes they fly right up to us and hand us something beautiful, but mostly they just hang around in the background, waiting to be grasped.

Click to bid

Lions and Owls and Composition, oh My! ACEO

2010-06-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

"Courage and Wisdom Caught Me Napping."

The lion stands for courage, and the 2 owls are two different kinds of wisdom: conventional and intuition. Acrylic on illustration board, ACEO

Click to bid

After doing some outdoor painting and struggling mightily with the composition, I holed up in my studio a few weeks to learn composition once and for all, as my past attempts had brought me only a partial understanding of this complex skill. This time I used "The Simple Secret to Better Painting" by Greg Albert. I recommend it highly! He simplifies composition down to one basic rule: "Never make any two intervals the same." The info in the book is very well organized, and each section he illustrates how to use this one rule with focal point, color, and value patterns. He also shows how the rule applies to landscape, still life, and figures. Painting is a lot more fun now that I finally comprehend the basics of composition.

Sketches from Sherwood Forest Faire

2010-04-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

"Tulstin Troubadours"

They were very good! And can each play several instruments. They also sang.

" Federico the Classical Guitarist"

He's really good too. I bought one of his CD's.

He and the man in the armor (below) did a duet.

"Singing Man in Armor"

"Sheriff of Nottingham"

Fun to compare his Sherwood costume to that of

the real Texas sheriff, who was also at the Faire.

These are some of the sketches I did whilst visiting Sherwood Forest Faire, which took place in central Texas, near the town of McDade. They had Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham, several other characters from the Sherwood hood, plus lots and lots of other fun and colorful personages. To do the sketches, I sat and watched various performances the Faire offered. While they were moving around onstage, I tried to get a sense of their poses and their costumes.

Mad Tea Party

2010-04-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

"Mad Tea Party" Watercolor on medium weight hot press paper. Size 8.5 x 11 inches.

This is a sample piece from my illustration portfolio. Taken from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, it portrays the Mad Tea Party, hosted by the Mad Hatter. The March Hare and the sleeping Dormouse are also at the table. In the distance is the White Rabbit. This is a companion piece to my watercolor "Alice does the Math for Humpty." You can see that it is the same Alice character in both paintings.

Available for sale, $75.00

Contact Theresa

Alice Does the Math for Humpty

2010-04-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

"Alice Does the Math for Humpty" Original Watercolor on 8x10 inch medium weight hot press watercolor paper. Click on image to see enlarged

I did this painting as a sample for an illustration portfolio. It is a scene from "Through the Looking-Glass" by Lewis Carroll, in which Alice encounters Humpty Dumpty. Here is a quote from the book:

`You don't know what you're talking about!' cried Humpty Dumpty. `How many days are there in a year?'

`Three hundred and sixty-five,' said Alice.

`And how many birthdays have you?'

`One.'

`And if you take one from three hundred and sixty-five what remains?'

`Three hundred and sixty-four, of course.'

Humpty Dumpty looked doubtful. `I'd rather see that done on paper,' he said.

There are a lot of fun little things in the painting: a dragonfly, a rabbit, also Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee in the background. The column on Humpty's wall has a relief sculpture of the Cheshire Cat.

Available on eBay!

"Wisdom Inc." ACEO Oil figure, owl, painting

2010-03-13T14:09:00.000-08:00

"Wisdom Inc." ACEO 2.5 x 3.5 inches, oil on panel.
This one has been accepted into Austin Figurative Show, a juried show sponsored by Austin Visual Arts Association.
Show runs March 29 -- April 11, 2010.
Artists' reception, April 3, 6--9 pm.
Where: Austin Art Space Gallery
7739 Northcross Dr., Ste. Q, Austin TX USA.

The leaf represents impermanence, and the rainbow represents beauty in nature that is fleeting, yet forever renewing itself. The owl, who is supposed to represent wisdom, is focused on obtaining the key. The hole in the hat is a reminder to lighten up and not take things so seriously.

Detail, with American penny to indicate scale of artwork.

Salon International attempt

2010-02-20T05:24:00.000-08:00

This was my entry in Salon International but oops! it didn't make it into the show.

Still, it was fun to enter and I'm going to try again next year.

"Four Keyholes" 8x10 oil on canvas. Now that it's no longer committed, I think I might monkey around with the composition a little in the lower corners.

My friend Nancy Grobe got 3 paintings accepted at Salon International. Congratulations Nancy, way to go!

Another friend, Louise Shelby, who is a writer, has a new blog up and running. Louise is one of the first childhood cancer survivors, and blogs about writing, cancer survival, and other topics.

"You Have Always Had Those Keys" Hat lady, cat, visionary

2010-02-04T17:07:00.001-08:00

"You Have Always Had Those Keys" watercolor and ink, ACEO, on medium weight cold press watercolor paper. On Ebay, with 20% going to Mercy Corps.

The Lady is wearing an elaborate hat with keys dangling off it. Around her neck is a heart shaped locket with a keyhole in it. There is a searching expression in her eyes. The Cat knows about the keys, and tries to let her know that they are within reach, and always have been.

Also on eBay:

"The Sqagon" half squirrel, half dragon ...read all about it

Humpty Dumpty on Ebay

2010-02-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

"Humpty in Love" Watercolor valentine 4x4 inches, and ink on medium weight watercolor paper.

Humpty Dumpty is in love with the Red Queen. You can see her initials and his on the wall. However, the Red Queen is married to the Red King, so Humpty's love goes unrequited. Alice is in the background, hiding behind a tree, and the Cheshire Cat makes a sly appearance. Humpty shouldn't trust that cat. He's a gossip.

Available on ebay, with 20% going to Mercy Corps, to help out in Haiti.

Love and Heart Miniature Oil Paintings, in a show

2010-01-26T15:42:00.000-08:00

"Arrow Thru My Hat" ACEO 3.5x2.5 inches, oil on canvas panel. This one is about how some things aren't so bad if you put them into perspective. The heart-tipped arrow missed the angel and went through the hat instead, and is looped to signify humor. The uprooted flower can be replanted. And the cat, well, sometimes a cat is just a cat.

"What is this thing they call a heart, kept hidden from the light of day? I pulled mine out to take a peek, then quickly put it back away." The cat has the key to the heart, but she doesn't notice. ACEO 3.5 x 2.5 inches, oil on canvas panel on wood.

"Heart Be Leaf" Acrylic on wood, 4x6. SOLD

A larger version of it can be seen here, on my website. I wanted to make a visual pun with the leaf shaped heart she's holding up to her chest. She wears a kind of jester's cap, but perhaps she's not such a fool.

These three paintings were accepted into the show: "For the Love of Art"

5th annual juried exhibit

February 8--27, 2010

Artists' reception February 12, 2010, 6pm--9pm

Austin Art Space Gallery

7739 Northcross Drive, Suite Q

Behind Northcross Mall

Austin, TX 78757

Art for Mercy Corps

2010-01-16T17:04:00.000-08:00

In response to earthquake in Haiti, I've put up some artwork on eBay with 100% of the proceeds going to Mercy Corps. "Kitty Hatch" Oil on wood ACEO (3.5 inches x 2.5 inches)

"Desert Rainbow", 7x5 inches oil on panel on eBay, 100% of proceeds

benefits Mercy Corps.

Bidding for each painting starts at $24.99.

To find my auctions on eBay, use the keyword TBARTS

Man Apple Loch Key: Tiny oil painting

2009-12-29T07:19:00.001-08:00

Here's a very tiny oil painting I completed recently: "Man, Apple, Loch and Key." Got ahold of some carpentry wood scraps recently, and have been having fun with them. The first image shows the actual size of the painting. The coin is an American penny.

It was too small to sign so I put my initials, TB on his shirt. You can barely see the signature initials in the image, above, in the lower right corner.

Clarity and Boundaries: oil painting figure landscape surreal

2009-12-02T20:13:00.001-08:00

"Clarity and Boundaries" 5x7 oil on Everlast canvas panel. The flower represents clarity, and the right shoulder fading into the background represents boundaries that are vague. The painting represents the moment of arriving at clarity. Clarity helps establish boundaries; knowing what you want means that you cannot be unduly influenced, and can stick to your goals.

Hat Lady with Cat: tiny miniature oil painting

2009-11-24T07:16:00.000-08:00

"Hat Lady with Cat and Key"

Oil on fine grain canvas on wood ACEO.

2.5 inches x 3.5 inches. The above photo shows actual size.

Call me crazy, but I love to do tiny miniatures. For reference I used photos, clay models, and did some out of my head. On a miniature face, you have to get the eyes lined up EXACTLY, because if it's off even a fraction of an inch, it shows. Below you can see an enlarged detail shot with a US penny for size reference.

12Buy12 show at Austin Art Space

2009-11-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

Two of my paintings have been accepted into the 12Buy12 juried art show at Austin Art Space. Show runs from December 1 --21, 2009.

Artists' Reception: December 5, 2009, 6pm--9pm

7739 Northcross Drive, Suite Q

Behind Northcross Mall

Austin TX 78757

"Keeper of the Keys," oil on canvas,

12x12 inches, sides finished, wired without frame.

"3 Keys to the Loch" oil on 12x12 inch canvas,

sides finished, wired to hang without frame.

Still life orange penny brass pitcher

2009-10-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

"Reflected Orange"

4x4 on stretched canvas, acrylic with oil varnish

Available on eBay

Bubble Fairy on eBay: Studio Sale!

2009-10-11T23:35:00.000-07:00

"Bubble Fairy" 5x7 watercolor and gouache on illustration board. This one was part of my illustration portfolio. Available on eBay, for auction.

Halloween Witch ACEO: Back on eBay

2009-10-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

After a year's absence, I'm back on eBay with some paintings in oils or acrylics. Also will be offering watercolors in fun art, illustrations, and plein air.

"Witch Pumpkin" ACEO 2.5 x 3.5 inches, acrylic on illustration board. Signature on lower left. Enlarged to show detail. Coin not included with auction. SOLD!

Highly enlarged detail.

Actual size. Small, isn't it?

the Other Cat Portrait finished

2009-10-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

"Los Hungry Boys" 11 x 14, oil on canvas

Since this one didn't have a deadline, it got put aside in favor of others that did, but it did get finished, and here it is. Came out better than I thought it would!

Cat portrait commission: 9 cats in acrylics

2009-09-30T06:10:00.001-07:00

"Nine Lives" 12x12 acrylics on canvas. This was a commission that I finished several weeks ago. Six of the cats are still here, and three are in cat heaven. The client wanted it to have a whimsical, folk art look. The overall design looks like a paw print, which wasn't intentional but works. Another happy coincidence: the colors in the painting go perfectly her decor! She left the color scheme up to me, but I'm convinced she must have known that this was the right thing to do. Because her colors of her cats harmonize perfectly with the paint job.

This was lots of FUN to do, and if you want a pet portrait done, let me know:

TB@TBarts.com

My Work Space

2009-08-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

Thought you might enjoy seeing my artwork in its natural setting. Click on the picture to get the full effect. This is part of my studio (the clean part) where you can see some of my collection of reference objects. The cow skull is a conceit I had to indulge in, being a southwestern American artist. There are also some of my paintings in various stages of completion. On the easel is the 3 cats painting, further along, that I posted here several weeks ago.

The part you can't see is a horrendous mess-- an obstacle course that I stumble over, while my cats leap merrily through it.

Sphinx Riddle Redux

2009-08-19T07:11:00.000-07:00

Illustration Friday: CAUTION. In ancient mythology, those who answered the Riddle the Sphinx posed had to get the answer correct, or forfeit their life. The painting contains both the riddle and its answer.

"The Riddle of The Sphinx" 11 x 14, acrylic on canvas. I redid the old one. I like the colors & composition much better now. I need to quit redoing old paintings, though, and just start afresh instead. I'd probably learn more that way.

Update: This painting has been selected to hang in the Austin Visual Arts Association 32nd Anniversary Exhibition, to be held September 4--28, 2009, at the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin, Texas USA. Opening reception: September 9, 6--8:30 pm.

Angel Painting (with another key!)

2009-08-14T06:38:00.001-07:00

"Infinite Possibilities" Oil on 11x14 canvas.

Well I put the cats painting aside in order to finish this Angel one on a deadline for a contest. Click on the link & you can see all the entrants... interesting to view all the different styles and approaches to the theme of Angels. It was fun to enter, and also working an oil painting under a deadline, I learned a lot. When creating a painting to enter a contest, I want to retain boldness and strength, and have complete faith in my own vision.

So now it's back to the Cats painting, which I'll post here soon.

WIP 3 cats (pet portrait, grisaille, underpainting, prints)

2009-07-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

(For Illustration Friday: modified clouds)

Another pet portrait, this time with a surrealist flair. The background has already been completed; on the three cats you can still see the underpainting. Doing a fantasy or a surreal painting is a bit like conducting a scavenger hunt to find all the necessary reference. The photos of the 3 cats weren't enough; I also made a small clay model of the cats sitting on the rock, plus I got out a little scrap of paper and made it into a little scroll (under the middle cat). Now I'm working on the rock the cats are sitting on. I can't do rocks out of my head! So that turned into a backyard expedition to find interesting rocks, which I hauled into my studio. They look great sitting next to my potted plant, and I can use them in future paintings.

Finished Painting of Profile (oil, glazes, Lady, cat, heron, fish)

2009-07-18T05:28:00.000-07:00

"3 Keys to the Loch", 12 x 12 oil on canvas.

I finished the fish & the background, added in the keys, and now it's done. The water in the background looks like a lake, or loch, hence the title. The fish has a lock in its eye, and the other characters in the painting all have a key. Originally I was going to have just one key dangling off the lady's hat, but once I put the lock into the fish, I realized all three of the other characters had to have a key.

I entered this painting into a juried show AVAA 32nd Anniversary (Austin Visual Arts Association).

Finished Birdie portrait (dog, roses, pet)

2009-07-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

"Birdie with Roses" pet portrait, 9x12 oil on canvas. The roses were pretty tough to paint, harder than painting the dog! But I felt all right about them.

I'm taking commissions for pet portraits. Email me if you're interested.

Birdie WIP (pet portrait of dog, grisaille)

2009-07-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

"Birdie" Grisaille underpainting in acrylic, 9x12, done from photo. This will be glazed over with oils. Birdie was a very sweet little dog who belonged to my niece. In this portrait I'm hoping to capture a sense of life and Birdie's personality.

WIP Stage 3, the first color glazes

2009-06-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

This is the first layer of oil color glazes over the acrylic underpainting. I used Liquin as a medium to glaze the figure, and Res-n-gel as a medium to glaze the remainder of it. I also use Turpenoid Natural as a brush cleaner.